Catholic radio has had a slow start in the United States in comparison to the
success of non-Catholic Christians on the airwaves, but in recent years it has
come on strong with solid programming and improved technology which has enabled
the message of the Gospel to reach throughout the globe.

Mike Kendall is chief programming officer for Relevant Radio (www.relevantradio.com). Relevant Radio
is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, produces its own programming, and
airs it through 13 stations it owns and 20 with which it is affiliated. Most of
its stations are in the Midwest, including Chicago. Through a contract with
Arbitron, “the gold standard in measuring a radio audience,” Kendall believes
its weekly Chicago audience is in the 60,000-70,000 range, and total audience
150,000-200,000.

“Our audience is engaged, and we’re a part of their daily lives,” Kendall said.
“Our audience might be small compared to commercial radio stations, but they’re
very committed. In fact, over 80% say Relevant Radio is their first choice in
radio listening.”

Relevant Radio is funded primarily by donations, mostly smaller donors, and
some traditional advertising. Their spring 2013 pledge raised $1.3 million,
more than expected.

Listeners can hear programs on AM-FM stations in some markets, as well as
through the Relevant Radio website or by downloading their free mobile app
through any iPhone or Android device. Kendall noted that listeners from all
over the world had reached out to the network to let them know they were
listening.

Some of Relevant Radio’s most popular programs include Morning Air with Sean
Herriott, The Drew Mariani Show and Go Ask Your Father (featuring different priests answering questions
about the Faith). The network offers ten hours of live, interactive programming
during weekdays.

“We find we’re successful when we address topics that impact the everyday lives
of our listeners,” Kendall commented. “Radio’s strength is that it is live,
interactive and ‘in the moment.’ We act as the town square where people can
call in and express their opinions.”

Radio hosts must be careful to connect with a wide array of listeners, from
educated Catholics to potential converts who know little of the Faith. Kendall
continued, “We’re good at it, but it is a continual challenge.”

In addition to talk, in the afternoons listeners are invited to pray with the
Relevant Radio staff. The network broadcasts a Divine Mercy Chaplet, with
pauses so listeners can call in with their intentions. In this way, thousands
of listeners can pray for each intention mentioned.

About 70 employees work for the network, some in Green Bay and others at other
studios throughout the country.

Kendall began with Relevant Radio in 2004, after 20 years working in the
commercial radio industry. The key difference between secular and Catholic
radio, he said, is that secular radio is driven by ratings and revenue, whereas
Catholic radio is driven by mission. Other Catholic networks are not the
competition, he said, but commercial radio. He said, “We’re competing for the
same listeners.”

Technology has greatly improved Relevant Radio’s reach since he began, he
noted. Anyone with an internet connection or iPhone can listen; thousands
download their phone app each week. He continued, “We’re always looking for new
opportunities to use technology to reach consumers throughout the world. It’s a
huge opportunity for the Catholic media community.”

Matthew Arnold is host of Shield of Faith, a new program offered through Radio Maria.
Arnold is a convert to Catholicism who heads an evangelization apostolate (www.matthewarnold.org). He was a
host for St. Joseph Radio in Southern California, and developed and produced
live and pre-recorded shows for the Catholic Family Radio network (which is no
longer in operation).

Arnold believes that live, call-in programs work well with Catholic radio. He
explained, “People love Q&A shows and like to offer their opinions.”

Key to any Catholic program he added is that hosts and producers “stick with
the authentic teaching of the Church.”

He continued, “I’ve found that ‘Joe Catholic in the pew’ has a hunger for the
authentic teaching of the Church and how it relates to his life. There is a
genuine desire for orthodoxy, which is all-too-often ‘under-represented’ by
official organs of the local Church. Heterodox programming may be underwritten
by those with money and an agenda, but does not enjoy the grassroots support
that keeps Catholic radio going.”

Shield of Faith’s purpose, he
said, is to help listeners to understand and live out their vocation as
Catholic laity. His prep work includes a careful study of both the Catechism and Bible.

Arnold said he was uncertain how large his radio audience was, but has noted a
significant increase in subscriptions to his YouTube channel and email lists.
He also said that the network’s annual spring “Mariathon” took in a record
number of donations.

Noting his 15 years of experience in the industry, he added, “I know from
personal experience that Catholic radio can have a life-changing effect on
listeners that goes far beyond ratings or fundraising. Catholic radio can be a
channel of grace for people of good will to encounter the living God. What
greater impact is there?”

While national and international programs certainly have their impact, he
believes, “nothing beats local radio that speaks to and interacts with the
events and concerns of the faithful in their own dioceses.”

Networks of local stations can provide a training ground for future national
hosts, but more importantly, “they give the faithful hope. An increase in the
supernatural virtue of hope is absolutely necessary for Catholics to rebuild
our culture.”

Mike Jones is vice president and general manager of Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ave Maria has 23 shows, and produces 54 hours per week of Catholic talk radio.
They work in collaboration with the EWTN network, and reach 230 stations in the
United States. They have the distinction of being the first Catholic talk radio
network, he said, established in 1996.

All of Ave Maria’s programs seek to be faithful to Church teaching, he said,
“Because our audience knows if we’re not.”

Its programs also strive to be “pertinent, applicable to listeners’ lives and
interactive.”

A successful host, he continued, cannot just have an idea for a single show to
be effective, but must have day-to-day ideas to keep audiences interested.

Additionally, he noted, with the plethora of media options available to the
public today, Catholic radio will only be effective to listeners ready to hear
the message. He explained, “When people wake up to their faith, our program
will resonate with them.”

Ave Maria operates with a staff of 12, and most of its funding comes from
listener donations. The most popular of its programs, Jones said, is its
flagship program featuring Al Kresta. Kresta also serves as president and CEO
of Ave Maria.

Jones remarked, “The motto of Al’s program is ‘We look at life through the lens
of Scripture and the teachings and traditions of the Church.’”

The network is always looking for ways to expand its reach. Jones remarked, “We
want people to buy, build and borrow radio stations, and we’ll give them
content free of charge.”

Thom Price is Director of English
Language Radio Programming for
EWTN. EWTN began its foray into radio in 1992, 11 years after it launched
its television network. It began with shortwave and was broadcast worldwide,
and entered the AM-FM world in 1996. Today, it can be found on 215 AM-FM
stations, as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio and through the Internet. It is
funded entirely by donations, with many of its listeners sending in just a few
dollars per month. EWTN produces its own shows, and carries the shows of other
Catholic networks.

Price is a convert, and became energized about his new faith after meeting a
charismatic young priest. Price had had a career in radio, and the priest
predicted he’d work for EWTN one day. He was right.

He said, “I’ve worked with country music, rock ‘n roll and classical music, as
well as talk radio. Now I’m giving back to God what I learned in the industry.”

He joined EWTN in 1997, reporting directly to EWTN’s founder, Mother Angelica.
At that time, EWTN was a much smaller organization, with only five or six radio
stations. But, he said, “Mother would tell me, ‘If you need something, let me
know. If we have the money and the timing is right, we’ll get it for you.’”

Mother is age 90 and, due to poor health, is no longer involved in the
production of the radio programming. However, Price has remembered what she
said, “We’ll get you what you need, do the best you can with what you have and
make sure your content is in line with the Magisterium of the Church!”

Listeners can enjoy the wisdom of Mother Angelica on the network’s daily Mornings
with Mother program, which features excerpts from her former
television show. At Home with Jim and Joy is
a family-oriented program EWTN produces that is popular with listeners, as well
as Catholic Answers Live produced
by Catholic Answers in San Diego. Other favorites include The Son Rise Morning
Show with Brian Patrick and Vocation Boom Radio with Jerry Usher.

Price believes interactivity is an important aspect of Catholic radio. In 2006,
the network first reached the “tipping point” of producing more live than pre-recorded
shows; today, they’re “wall to wall” with live shows. He personally loves
music, but is rarely able to broadcast it on EWTN. He explained, “It bogs down
our affiliates, who have to pay for music licensing. They asked us to cut back
on it. It makes me sad, as I love music and I’m married to a singer.”

Following Mother Angelica’s directive, Price is always looking to leverage
technology to broaden EWTN’s reach. He said, “If there’s new media, that’s
where we need to be.”

EWTN is headquartered near Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to its television
and radio broadcasting facilities, it has a theology department to help ensure
that all programming is an accurate reflection of Catholic teaching. Price
noted, “We’re here to support the Church. We have no reason or need to start up
a new one. We love the Church that Jesus started.”

Price encourages his fellow Catholics to encourage others to listen to EWTN
radio, and noted its positive impact on communities worldwide. He said, “We get
letters all the time from, say, someone who was contemplating suicide or a
pregnant woman heading to an abortion clinic who was set on the right path
after hearing our message.”

Elena Rodriguez works with Price and serves as a producer for
EWTN radio. She produces At Home with Jim and Joy, as well as other programming. The show is focused on conveying the
Church’s teachings on the sanctity of life, and features guests and listeners
calling in.

Key to her work, she says, is prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament.
She must also keep abreast of the news of the day, finding what topics would be
of interest to listeners. Working as an EWTN producer gives her the ideal
opportunity to combine her two passions in life, evangelism and journalism.

And, she added, she must also have the professional competence to make the
program a success. There is a daily challenge, she said, to avoid mistakes in
production as well as to maintain the show’s orthodoxy.

Screening callers is an art. The show welcomes friendly debate, but “if we have
an indication that someone is unstable or has a violent attitude, we ask them
to refrain from being on the air. And, we explain to them why.”

The show has a ten-second delay, lest a caller sneak through the screening
process and attempt to use vulgarities on the air. She said, “We have moms in
their cars with kids listening to the show. I have to be aware of what’s going
on all the time, so that if someone were to, say, drop the f-bomb, we can
prevent it from being heard.”

Rodriguez is from Costa Rica and grew up watching EWTN. She said, “I remember
telling my mom I’d like to work for them someday.”

She worked in Catholic radio, and was invited to join the EWTN staff four years
ago. Her job has brought her many memorable moments. Earlier this year, for
example, she spent 18 days in Rome covering the election and installation of
Pope Francis. She said, “It was the highlight of my journalistic career.”

She hopes to have many more good years with EWTN, sharing the teachings of
Christ. She remarked, “The reason we do our shows is to teach the Gospel; to
bring the Splendor of Truth to the airwaves.

About the Author

Jim Graves

Jim Graves is a Catholic writer living in Newport Beach, California.

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